Aeroplane.



L. B. HOLLAND.

AEROPLANE.

lLPPLIULJIION FILED 111.111.511,v 1910.

1,003,459. Patented sept. 19.1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

* a N- vgv Imwwtm L. B. HOLLAND.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED 1613.21, 1910.

Patented sept. 19,1911,

2 SHEETS-s113111' 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

:.nronstrna .BoDINE HOILAND, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE.

The invention re ates to new and useful.

improvements in aeroplanes of the Voisin biplane type, although it is obvious that from certain aspects my invention is not limited to an aeroplane of the biplane type, the essential features being a horizontal plane of suHicient area to sustain the aeroplane, and vertical lanes of sufficient area to give lateral stabillty to the aeroplane.

An object of the invention is to provide means formoving the vertical planes in an aeroplane of the above,` type, so that said vertical planes may belso positioned as to avoid any drag or retarding eifect in the turning of the aeroplane to the right or. left in its Hight.

A further object of the invention is to Y provide' means for positioning -the vertical planes so as to accompany turning the aerof fully described.

plane with a lifting tendency at one end of the horizontal supporting plane or planes, and a depressing tendency at the opposite end of said plane or planes.

'Ihese and other objects will in part be obvious .and will in part be hereinafter more In the drawings which show b way of illustration one embodiment of t e invention, Figure I, is a perspective view of an aeroplane having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. II, isi a side elevation showing a portion of the skids, and the running wheels, and in dotted lines the position of the running wheels during Hight. Fig. III, is a .detail perspective view showing the spring for lifting the running wheels entirely above the skids. Fig. IV, is a detail in plan of one end of the supporting planes, showing the vertical planes in their normal position', and showing in dotted lines the vertical planes positioned for turning.

I have herein illustrated an aeroplane of the biplane type, which consists of an upper horizontal plane 1, and a lower horizontal plane 2. These' horizontal planes are formed in the usual manner of a rigid framework, which is covered by any suitable fabric, Said planes are also curved trans- ASp'ecieation or Letters Patent. Patent-evd Sept, 19, 1911, lApplication led March 21, 1910. 4vSerial No. 550,560. I

guiding the 'aeroplane in its Vertical movements.

At each end of the horizontal planes l, and 2, I have arranged'vertical planes 7, 7 and 8, 8. The vertical planes 7, are located 'at points very near the outer ends of the horizontal planes, and the vertical lanes 8,

8, are s aced at suitable distances rom the.

planes 7. :The purpose of the vertical planes is to afford lateral stability ofthe aeroplane. Said planes are normally positioned `so that they are parallel to the direction of Hight. Said vertical planes also assist in a well known manner 1n forming a pocket which aids in sustaining the aeroplane.

When it is desired to turn the aeroplane either to the right or left in Hight, it will be obvious that if the vertical planes are rigid relative to the horizontal planes, the side surfaces of the vertical planes will cause more or less of a drag or retarding effect upon the turning of the aeroplane, and therefore it is impossible to turn an aero-l plane having 'rigid vertical planes in a curved path of comparatively small radius. In order to overcome this objection, I have mounted my vertical planes so that they may be swung relative to the horizontal plane. Each of the vertical 'planes consists of'an independent frame, over which suitable fabric may be stretched.

The upper edge 9, of the vertical planes are curved to conform to the curvature of the horizontal plane 1. The lower edges 10,

are similarly curved'to conform to the curvature of the horizontal plane 2. Each of the vertical planes are mounted so as to swing about'a diagonal axis 11`.

When turning the aeroplane to the right, in order topreserve lateral stability, it is necessary that the left hand end of the horizontal planes be lifted slightly, and the right hapd end be` slightly depressed. I

this movement of the axis of the vertical' planes I am able to position the same so as to offer the least possible resistance to the turning ofthe aeroplane. While I have l.shownthe axis about which the -vertical planes swing as extending diagonally of said planes, it is obvious that this axis may be shifted so as to be inclined more'or less to the horizontal planes. i

In order to swing the vertical planes 7, 7, and 8, 8, I have connected the upper free corners of s aid `planes by a cord or cable 12, andthe lower free corners of said planes by a cord or cable 13. The cord or cable 13, is connected to avleve-r 14, carried by a rock shaft 15, and provided with a handle 16, which is so positioned as to be readily accessible to theoperator. tion of the lever 14, the planes 7, 7, and 8, 8, may be swung to one side or the other, de-

pending upon the desired direction of turn-` ing the aeroplane. When turning to the left, the vertical planes are positioned asv shown in Fig. I, and when turning to the right, the vertical planes will be swung to the other side of their normal position.

single horizontal supporting plane may be used instead of two planes as herein shown. I have throughout. this specification and in the claims, spoken of swinging the vertical plane about an inclined axis, and have illustrated my invention as embodying this idea in a plane which is capable .of swinging upon a diagonal pivoting axis, but it 1s obvious that instead of bodily swinging the entire plane, a twisting or warping of iagonally opposite corners of the plane, would accomplish the same result, and I desire it to be understood that by the term swinging, I include such warping action as accomplishes the same practical end as the -swinging of the pivoted plane.

In order to support the aeroplane for free running during the initial starting of the same, I have provided a rear wheel 17, and two forward wheels 18, 18. It has been found desirable to yuse running wheels for the starting o f the aeroplane, but said runni wheels are not suliiciently strong to wit stand the impact at landing. As herein shown I have provided 'my aeroplane,

Awith the usual frame carrying the skids 19. The running wheels 18, 18, are mounted upon an axle 20, and said axle is carried by said arms 2 1, 21, which are provided with By the manipulaf sleeves 22, at their upper' ends, journaled on the cross bar 23, secured to the frame. Said arms 21, together with the running wheels, are free to turn about 'the cross bar 23, from the position shown in full lines in Fig. II, to the position shown in dotted lines therein. The curved bar 24, carried by the frame, is so constructed that the axle 20, is constantly maintained in sliding contact therewith. When the parts are positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. II, the weight of the aeroplane will tend to turn the arms 21, about the cross bar 23, in a clockwise direction, and will bring the axle into contact with the frame, which limits the movement of the arms 21, and forms a rigid support for the running wheels. It will thus be seen that the aeroplane is supported on the running wheels 18, at its forward end, and the said wheels are held rigidly as to vertical Inovement at this time. In order that the running wheels may be thrown to a position above the skids 19, when the aeroplane leaves the ground, I have provided a spring 25, which, as herein shown, is in the forni of a spring bar, rigidly bolted at 26, to the cross bar 23, with its ends extending underneath the arms 21, 21, which support the running wheels. .Said spring 25, is so mounted as to normally move the arms 21, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. II, and it will be noted that as soon as the weight of the aeroplane is taken from the running wheels 18, the' spring will move the same to a position entirely above the skids, so that in anding the 'entire impact will be received by said skids.

The particular construction of support herein described forms no part of the present invention, but is shown, described and claimed in my copending application, Serial lilecl August 4th, 1910. I claim 1. An aeroplane including in combination, a main horizontal plane;` a vertical plane adjacent each end of said horizontal plane; and means for swinging each of said vertical planes about a diagonal axis extending from one edge of said plane -to a point in vvertical alinement with the opposite edge of said plane.

2. An aeroplane including in combination,

a main horizontal plane; spaced vertical l each end -of said horizontal) planes; and

means forswinging Aeach of said vertical planes about a diagonal axis extending downwardly from front to rear relative to said horizontal planes. y

4. An aeroplane including in combination,

spaced rigid horizontal planes arranged one above the other; s aced vertical planes arranged between sald horizontal planes and a pair of spaced Isuperimposed rigid horizontal planes; a pair of spaced ri id vertical Iplanes arranged near each en of said horizontal `planes and between the saine; and means for simultaneously swinging said vertical planes about axes arranged diagonally in said vertical planes.

6. An laeroplane including in combination a pair of spaced superimposed rigid horizontal planes; a pair of spaced ri 'd vertical planes arranged near each en of said horizontal planes, and between 'the same; means for pivoting said vertical planes so that each may swing about a diagonal axis extendingdownwardly from the fr ont to the rear of said planes; a cord connect-in the upper free corners of said 'Vertica planes; a cord connecting the lower free corners of said vertical planes; an arm connected to said last named cord; a rock shaft upon which said arm is mounted; and means for oscillating said rock shaft.

7 An aeroplane including in combination 35 a main horizontal plane, a coperating vertical plane,an d means for swinging diag'- onally opposite corners of said vertical plane about a diagonal axis connecting the other two corners. l

8. An aeroplane including in combination v spaced horizontal planes arranged one above the other; a vertical plane located between said horizontal planes and adjacent each end thereof, and means for swinging each 45 of said vertical planes about an axis extending in an inclined direction from a point in vertical alinement with the edges on' one side of the horizontal planes, to a point in vertical alinement with the opposite edges 5l.) I

of saidhorizontal lanes. r In testimony w ereof, l have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this eighteenth day of March, 1910. LEICESTER BOBINE HOLLAND.. i Witnesses:`

, JAMES H. BELL,

E. L. Fnmnnron. 

